The draft week has been a rollercoaster for Michigan State, with contrasting fortunes in the NBA and NHL drafts. The Spartans found themselves without a single player selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, while their hockey counterparts celebrated nearly a dozen selections in the NHL Draft.
This disparity has fueled the ongoing debate among fans, particularly those of Michigan, who are quick to critique Tom Izzo, the Hall of Fame coach. Despite the noise, it's worth noting that Izzo has a knack for developing talent, as seen with Carson Cooper, who transformed from a zero-star recruit into an NBA signee with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Cooper, along with Jaxon Kohler who signed with the Utah Jazz, secured deals post-draft, giving them a shot to make their respective rosters for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The Spartans might have had another draftee in Jeremy Fears Jr., but he made a last-minute decision to withdraw from the draft, opting to stay at Michigan State for another year. This decision could pay off, as Fears is expected to be a strong contender in next year’s draft.
Looking ahead to the 2027 NBA Draft, early projections are already circulating, and Michigan State is getting some early recognition. A well-regarded draft expert has placed two Spartans in his top 60 prospects.
Jasiah Jervis stands out as a top-10 prospect, while Fears finds himself at No. 57.
This ranking seems conservative for Fears, who is poised to make a significant impact this season.
Jeremy Fears Jr. has all the makings of a first-round talent. While not yet widely projected in the first round, his skill set is undeniable.
Fears boasts exceptional explosiveness, elite ball-handling, and defensive prowess. He's also added a reliable mid-range jumper to his arsenal and is known for his leadership qualities and winning mentality.
With these attributes, it's hard to overlook his potential as a future team leader and All-American point guard.
On the other hand, Jasiah Jervis is drawing attention based on his potential, which has Spartan fans excited about his future. As a projected top-10 pick, Jervis is expected to shine as a shooting guard this season. If he lives up to the hype, Michigan State could be looking at a deep tournament run, with expectations set on a Final Four appearance.
In summary, while the Spartans may not have had the NBA draft they hoped for this year, the future looks promising. With talents like Fears and Jervis on the rise, Michigan State fans have plenty to look forward to as they anticipate the next chapter in their basketball journey.
In Other News...
Draymond Green Already Has A Rookie Testing His Patience
Yaxel Lendeborg has barely gotten through the introduction phase with the Warriors and already found himself in the kind of veteran-rookie exchange that tends to follow players into training camp. The rookie, who was drafted by Golden State, said at a press conference that Draymond Green had not responded to his outreach, a comment that quickly put one of the leagues most recognizable veterans in the middle of a small but very public back-and-forth.
Green wasted little time addressing it, turning the moment into a joke about rookie hazing and making clear the relationship is still in the early, teasing stage. For the Warriors, it is the sort of off-court banter that can be harmless in May and suddenly feel more revealing once camp opens, especially with a young player trying to find his footing around a veteran who has never been shy about setting the tone. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Freshman Big Already Looks Like An Izzo Project
Ethan Taylor has only just arrived in East Lansing, but the freshman big already has the kind of profile Michigan State usually covets. A former top center prospect who spent part of the summer on Team USA, Taylor comes in with real pedigree and the size to become another long-term paint presence in Tom Izzos program.
What stands out early is how willingly he has embraced the coaching and the demand that comes with it. Michigan State has a history of turning talented young frontcourt players into reliable college pieces, and Taylor looks like the next one in that pipeline, with plenty of room to grow as the seasons go on. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State May Be Losing A Hometown Recruit It Needed Most
Anthony Cartwright was the kind of hometown target Michigan State needed to land early in Pat Fitzgeralds tenure, a four-star tight end from Franklin who fit the profile of a program trying to reestablish itself in its own backyard. Instead, the Spartans appear to be watching the recruitment tilt away from East Lansing, with recruiting experts and projections pointing the 2026 prospect toward a different national power after his recent visit.
For Michigan State, the miss would sting beyond the normal recruiting disappointment because Cartwright is a legacy recruit with deep family ties to the university. The Spartans have spent years trying to keep top in-state talent from slipping out of reach, and this is exactly the type of battle they needed to win to make an early statement. Instead, they may be left hoping there is still time to turn a race that has already started to separate. [Read more 🡒]